High Court notice to Centre on Simranjit Mann’s plea

Chandigarh, November 21

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Union of India, the SGPC and other respondents on the petition filed by former IPS officer and two times MP Simranjit Singh Mann seeking directions for registration of a case for demolishing Darshani Deori of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran.

Appearing before the Bench of Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill, Mann’s counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal submitted that Darshani Deori was built by the grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh about 200 years ago. The SGPC entrusted its care to Baba Jagtar Singh. But he and other have destroyed Darbar Sahib, he alleged.

Lakhanpal added the Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar, headed by Mann, and other Sikh leaders sat on a dharna for over a week. But action was not taken by the SGPC against the demolition or against the persons who committed the crime. Referring to a report on the issue in The Tribune, Lakhanpal added the building which was partially demolished was a heritage site and of immense religious importance for the Sikh community. The case will now come up on November 26. — TNS